Effects of Chronic Intake of Cannabis on Contrast Sensitivity

Effects of Chronic Intake of Cannabis on Contrast Sensitivity

Rates of driving under the influence of cannabis have risen in recent years. Cannabis is involved in 1/3 of motor vehicle collisions. The chronic use of cannabis is known to affect dopaminergic regulation and may thus impair contrast sensitivity. In turn, contrast sensitivity disorders could originate difficulties to anticipate and avoid collision with objects, especially when objects are in movement. The investigators goal is to examine the effects of a chronic intake of cannabis on contrast sensitivity. The observed values will be compared to standard references. In addition, since smoking cannabis is always associated with tobacco, the investigators will control the effects of tobacco on contrast sensitivity.

In this study, the investigators will include 36 cannabis addicts, 36 tobacco addicts and 36 no smokers. The investigators will present gratings with different spatial frequencies and the investigators will determine contrast thresholds for static and dynamic (moving) gratings. The investigators predict that cannabis addicts will present abnormal contrast sensitivity especially in case of dynamic presentation of gradings.

Inclusion Criteria:

"Cannabis" Arm

• patient addicted to cannabis
• Positive CAST test result
• Urine tested positive for cannabis metabolites

"Tobacco" Arm

• positive Fagerström test result
• No cannabis intake in the last year before inclusion
• No previous history of cannabis use

"Healthy Volunteers"

• No tobacco or cannabis intake in the last year before inclusion
• No history of addictive disorders

Exclusion Criteria:

• addiction to other substances than cannabis or tobacco
• benzodiazepine treatment
• patient with history of benzodiazepine treatment
• patient with history of general anesthesia in the last 3 months before inclusion
• patient with history of head trauma
• Pregnant woman
• breast feeding woman
• Adults under supervision or guardianship